FARMINGTON – Nearly 100 people sang, recited scripture and listened to a Bates College professor highlight Hollywood’s film version of the Civil Rights movement at the annual service honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day service, hosted each year by the Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry, was held at the Old South Church. A second event, the screening of the documentary film, Freedom Summer 1964 was also held in the afternoon at the church.
Charles Nero, a professor of Rhetoric, African American Studies and American Cultural Studies at Bates College in Lewiston, discussed the portrayal of whites and blacks in movies in his talk titled, “White Fragility and the Civil Rights Movement by Hollywood.”
When Hollywood films feature a narrative in which white people save black people, it’s “because white people can’t be made to feel uncomfortable,” Nero said and he added, “The Civil Rights movement was a very uncomfortable time for whites.”
Big screen movies seen by Mainers, who may not know many people who are black living in one of the whitest states in the country, get their information about black people from films, he said.
“Films matter,” Nero said. He showed a few clips from the popular 2009 movie, The Blind Side, in which a white woman (played by Sandra Bullock) “rescues” or takes in a black boy, who was in foster care because his mother was a cocaine addict, to live with her family. The boy becomes a football star at high school and goes on to play football professionally.
“White fragility is the white savior narrative. A white woman saves a black person,” Nero said. Another film, Neighborly Christian Academic features a black boy who is accepted into a mostly white private Christian school. That film employs a nod to the Civil Rights movement, with its portrayal of white resistance to integration at the school and urban renewal.
Nero noted that following the 1954 Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, ultimately led to an alternative system of education in the south: privately funded Christian schools and underfunded public schools.
Private schools “were funded in resistance to school integration,” he said. The film’s story is one of whites ultimately saving a black boy by allowing him to be enrolled in the school.
He talked of the recent police enforcement, fatal shootings and resulting violence as derived from “white fragility. There’s a mandate of policing black bodies, of keeping black people confined that often results in violence and death.”
“It’s the legitimization of whiteness even if it means killing others who aren’t white,” Nero said. “Only two white people can produce a white person. Whiteness is very fragile.”
A collection was taken for New Beginnings, an agency based in Lewiston with outreach help available in Farmington, that provides help to homeless and at-risk youths. Rev. Susan Crane said they had asked Nero which charity to support at this year’s service and he recommended the agency. Crane noted the importance of providing shelter and help because “kids don’t survive well on the streets,” she said.
Dan Woodward, accompanied by Andy Buckland and Greg Hazzard, sang a rousing “I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.” As is the tradition here, the service ended by forming a fellowship circle by those attending around the church and singing “We Shall Overcome.”
America may not be perfect but where in the world can one feel more free? Take a break from the pity parties and appreciate the freedom that’s staring you in the face.
@ Captain Planet: Your statement shows you to be a prime example of ‘white privilege’. You have never suffered the “consequences” of being non-white, you can’t even comprehend it.
Marie, I know many ‘non-white’ people that love the freedom and opportunities America has to offer to anyone with desire and positive ambition. None of them would ever burn and loot their own neighborhood. Maybe if you worked on the problems in ‘non-white’ culture instead of always blaming the white guy privilege you’d see more improvement.
Captain Planet – When the US was founded we had slaves, and women couldn’t vote. In fact, women’s rights were meager, and poor people often starved. For over two centuries we have improved – slowly, step by step. We have accomplished a lot, but we still have a long way to go. Anyone, at any time in the last two centuries, could probably have made the comment you did. Luckily, if someone did, it was ignored. Improvement only continues because people don’t just “be satisfied with what’s good,” but instead “work to improve what needs changing.” Racism is still very real, and there are real, on going problems faced by many blacks because of their race. To somehow be bothered by people speaking up about this seems very odd. (Also, to your first comment – the US is one of many advanced industrial democracies with freedom, we can learn by comparing with others and seeing what others do better than us as well. Most indices put the US at 15th to even 23rd when ranked according to freedom.)
Evidently the captain lives in a post-racial utopia of his own devising. Perhaps the “non-white” people he knows can familiarize him with the freedom and opportunity of driving while black. Pity parties can also be held by those who complain about acknowledging that there remains more than a little work to do in this country on the issue of race. One wonders what was omitted from the captain’s understanding of American history. I have little doubt that this is the only national holiday that the captain finds it necessary to make his type of observations necessary.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Such a beautiful reminder to appreciate our community! It’s a community that expresses concern for those less fortunate, has hope for equality, remembers to never forget the fight for justice. It acknowledges the brave people who fought (and still fight) for equality even as others would shut them up (and kill them for their words, it turns out.) yes we are very fortunate to live in a country where freedom to express is a given. some might call it a “pity party”, I call it democracy, and am so thankful for the brave people like these who don’t let it slip away…
Captain Planet, Very well said.
Tat speech was inaccurate on every single point. He shows a shocking ignorance of history and current events. He should give thanks to the families of thousands of Maine men who suffered,starved froze and bled to free his kin.They left their families to starve for years to win this fight. If millions of brave white folks hadn’t defeated the Germans and Japan,he would not be here nor have been born. As a former liberal Thanks to him,I would advise him to boycott every invention,discovery,improvement and science and medicine that was created by the 10% of the world who are white. Who takes care of whom?
Dear Captain Planet,
There was no blaming from the speaker at Monday’s service, just observation. The people who attended learned something.
Marie, “white privilege”. Explain to us how your not being racist by saying that? Looking for an honest answer.
Amen to what you said Marie E. His answer back to you proves he still has no understanding of his white privilege.
There were many ‘facts’ left out of so-called History books. Let’s just say: History was censored, and still is.
If you want to really know what life is or has been like for any person of color in this country, sit down with a few, ask the question, and listen to what they and members of their family have personally experienced. You might be very surprised. You will definitely be more enlightened by what you hear.
History books are a guide; a beginning. Talk to those who have lived it, and you will get the finer details and information that have been left out of publications.
So somebody thinks saying white privilege is racist? Lol! There is white privilege and there is no way that one can be considered racist for saying that. “Not feeling the Bern” – you really need a lesson in logic!
@Not feeling… Perhaps you too should consider the broader scope of what “white privilege” means. Although the author offers the perspective of a non-white person, does that make the argument less valid? I think not.
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/org/wsar/intro.htm
Marie, thank you for not answering the question. Very Clinton of you.
“Racism” is just a specie of general prejudice, it is entirely unidirectional in focus, prejudice also has an irrational component to it
Native Americans are really not prejudiced against whites, they just don’t trust them, same for blacks, they could get along with us better if they wanted to!
As to Marie E. and Not feeling the bern,, hard to tell, Marie sounds normal ’nuff!
I’m very disappointed in you Daily Bulldog for posting this Racist story…….Shame on You!!!
What I think is interesting is that the Sandra Bullock movie was based on a true story. I totally agree that “Films Matter”…but one would think a Bates Professor could come up with a better example. There are many….
How is this a helpful topic to discuss? MLK Jr said I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Yet here we are 2017 focusing on color, how about instead on MLK Jr day we forget about race and start looking at people based on the individual.
“Only two white people can produce a white person. Whiteness is very fragile,” said Nero. I want to say so many things to this man.